Stitching guide gauge



ay 10, 1938. c. T. sTAcKPoLE 26116936 STITCHING GUIDE GAUGE Filed April 22, 1957 I d w aw /e8 fitaci vole Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a gauge for a sewing machine and is adapted particularly for commercial sewing machines for sewing leather or the like, although capable of use for sewing machines in general.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a guide gauge on the front or outside of the head of the sewing machine; to provide for sewing on the machine straight along the gauge at a predetermined distance therefrom and to provide a construction of gauge which can be swung to the left hand so as to get it out of the way when it is not in use, and to provide a construction especially adapted for post machines, although applicable to machines of any general type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a post sewing machine with a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto, and

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same showing the outward swing of. the gauge in dotted lines.

The invention is shown as applied to a machine comprising a post ID for the support of the work and a sewing head of the usual type. The work is supported on the post ID in such position that the needle l2 will sew a seam at a constant distance from the edge of the work, such distance being controlled by the gauge. In order to provide this guide gauge on the front or the outside of the machine and space it a proper distance from the front of the head, a plate I3 is secured on the front plate ll of the head by means of the screws I4.

The plate 13 has a front plane surface Hi. It is also provided with two spring balls l6 spaced apart. These balls, of course, will yield but the spring will project them so that, under ordinary circumstances, they perform the desired function. This plate I3 also has a stop l1. Ona pivot screw l8 which screws into the plate I3 is plvotally mounted the gauge I9 and it can be swung on its pivot by means of a handle 20, also projecting out of the front of the machine. This gauge is provided with a shelf 2| and with a lip 22 thereon which passes over the work. The vertical surface of a downwardly projecting toe 24 constitutes the gauge and also the guide for the edge of the work on the post. This material of the work may have a straight edge or curved but it is moved on the post I 0 in contact with the gauge 24 and guided thereby throughout its length.

The top of. the gauge I9 is formed of a width at 23 equal to the space between the spring balls accompanying Hi. When it is in the vertical position, as shown, it is in the operative position and these two balls hold it in that position up against the stop I'l. Of course, the gauge can be turned to the left, as indicated in dotted lines, where it is well out of the way of the machine and the operator. This is done by simply swinging it on its pivot l8, overcoming the yielding resistance of one of the balls IS. The ball at the right will then engage the side of the upper end 23 of this gauge and hold ,it there in the inclined position shown. Thus, the operator can move it to the left and leave it there while placing a new piece of Work on the post, threading the needle, or performing any other usual operation. It is held in vertical position so that there is no danger of its getting out of that position accidentally.

This constitutes a very simple and inexpensive guide gauge which will remain in operative position under all ordinary conditions so that the work can be manipulated and the operator can give all of her attention to it. It can be swung out to the side and left there without any further attention while the operator is changing the work and performing other operations that have to be done while the machine is not running.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a guide gauge for a sewing machine comprising a plate adapted to be fixed on the head of the machine, a pivot stud carried by said plate, a gauge pivotally mounted on said pivot stud and adapted to hang down vertically in operative position, a pair of spring balls adapted to engage opposite sides of the gauge to hold it in vertical position or to yield to allow the gauge to be swung on its pivot to one side of its operative position until one edge engages the spring ball on the other side, whereby the guide will be held by that spring ball in a position away from the work.

2. As an article of. manufacture, a guide gauge for a sewing machine comprising a plate adapted to be fixed on the head of the machine, a pivot stud carried by said plate, a gauge pivotally mounted on said pivot stud and adapted to hang down vertically in operative position, a spring ball adapted to engage one side of the gauge to hold it in vertical position or to yield to allow the gauge to be swung on its pivot to the left side of its operative position until the opposite edge engages the spring ball, whereby the guide will be held by the spring ball in a position away from the work.

CHARLES T. STACKPOLE. 

